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The Book of Harlan

Bernice L. McFadden (Goodreads Author)

4.09 · Rating details · 2,314 ratings · 453 reviews

During World War II, two African American musicians are captured by the Nazis in Paris and imprisoned at the Buchenwald concentration camp.

The Book of Harlan opens with the courtship of Harlan’s parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Georgia. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, where he becomes a musician. Soon, Harlan and hi ...more

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Paperback, 400 pages

Published May 3rd 2016 by Akashic Books (first published April 11th 2016)

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· 2,314 ratings · 453 reviews

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Jul 19, 2016 Brina rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, african-american, holocaust

I give 3.8 stars to The Book of Harlan, Bernice McFadden's newest book which details the life of her grandfather Harlan McFadden. I completed this book that read quickly over the course of a day. McFadden shares the ups and downs of Harlan's life and shares what it meant to be African American in the first half of the 20th century. Here is Harlan's story.

Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make I give 3.8 stars to The Book of Harlan, Bernice McFadden's newest book which details the life of her grandfather Harlan McFadden. I completed this book that read quickly over the course of a day. McFadden shares the ups and downs of Harlan's life and shares what it meant to be African American in the first half of the 20th century. Here is Harlan's story.

Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make a better life for themselves followed the great migration north and eventually settled in Harlem. During their nomadic existence, Harlan stayed at the home of Emma's parents, leading to hatred toward his own parents. Whereas many may feel that Emma did not want her son, I gather here that she left him in her parents' stable care while she sought out a better life for him.

The Elliots soon became mainstays in Harlem's life. Emma hosted memorable house parties, earning the acquaintance of a who's who in African American society, including the great Louis Armstrong. Harlan desired a life like Armstrong for himself and became a sought after guitarist. Alongside his new friend Lizard, the duo formed their own band, and rose to prominence within Harlem's circles. Meanwhile, Harlan found love in the form of Gwendolyn Gill, an immigrant from Barbados, who eventually becomes the mother of his children. This is the one section where McFadden does not tie up loose ends, accounting for a half star deduction in my rating. Next, Emma's closest friend the singer Lucille Hegamin arranges for the band to tour in France, altering Harlan's existence.

It was not safe to be negro in France in 1940. Soon after their band's arrival at the Montmarte, Harlan and Lizard are captured by the Nazis and spend the duration of the war in Buchenwald concentration camp. Miraculously, Harlan survives whereas Lizard does not. He returns home withdrawn and having nightmares of the camps. Soon after the Elliots leave Harlem, hoping to put Harlan's nightmares behind him.

In the last third of the book, McFadden touches on race relations in the United States over a thirty year period. I found this part to be fascinating because we generally just get a few sentence overview in history books. Harlan becomes an archetype for the black struggle and we see through his trials and tribulations where our country has come in terms of race relations over the course of the twentieth century and beyond.

I found the Book of Harlan to be an engaging and quick read. I was captivated by Harlan's story and read through quickly to find out what happened to him. This is a labor of love as I found out that Harlan is Bernice McFadden's grandfather. She changed some dates and names, but otherwise gave us an intimate look into the life of her grandfather. A powerful read which I rate 3.8, I recommend Harlan's story to all.

...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Lauren Cecile rated it really liked it

4.5 stars!! I had to take off half a point because of the ending which, without giving away anything, is contrary to what actually happened to an important Nazi figure. I don't care for revisionist history unless it's in a speculative work. Although, in retrospect, it could have just been the protagonist's reality.
Bernice McFadden has written an epic novel about African-American life from the early 1900s to 1973. Apparently the novel is partly biographical, the main character being based on her ...more

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May 18, 2016 lark benobi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, a-new-way-of-reading

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I loved it. There is so much to love in these pages, and so much attention to history. There is a loving attention to characters and their foibles that I found very endearing. I cared a lot about these people. The story resolved itself in an ending that, although completely implausible, was entirely satisfying. It was that kind of story--a story where I loved the characters and wanted good things to happen to them. The book is much more about heart than hea ...more

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Nov 14, 2020 Lisa rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-tbr-shelf, audiobook

[3.4] This book follows Harlan's story from the early 1900s before his birth, to the mid 1970s and touches on a plethora of historical figures and events. I like McFadden's writing style, but never connected to Harlan - perhaps because of her whirlwind approach. I read that she based the book on her grandfather. That makes sense. Harlan never felt real to me - perhaps he was too protected by the author's memories to fill out into a complex character. I will read more by McFadden. ...more

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May 24, 2016 Shannon rated it liked it · review of another edition

I was over half way through this book before settling in, which makes it hard to rate. The only reason I didn't quit the book is because several of my trusted reviewers gave it 4 and 5 stars. I'm glad I stuck with it because I really started to like it around page 195 and at page 278 I started to love it. Problem with that is the book is only 342 pages.

Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As wi I was over half way through this book before settling in, which makes it hard to rate. The only reason I didn't quit the book is because several of my trusted reviewers gave it 4 and 5 stars. I'm glad I stuck with it because I really started to like it around page 195 and at page 278 I started to love it. Problem with that is the book is only 342 pages.

Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As with any historical fiction novel, what makes this one is the events that the author decided to incorporate. Bernice touches on several topics including: the Great Migration and migrants from the Caribbean to NYC, jazz history from the 1920s, a radio prank broadcast in NY in the 1930s , the changing face of Harlem and parts of New Jersey across decades, blacks in German concentration camps including camps in Namibia, and a 1967 Time Magazine cover highlighting ever-present strife between law enforcement and the black community. Unlike most historical fiction I've read, I felt like I should do a quick Google search on every name that appeared in the text for fear of missing out on a buried gem!

By the time you get to the last page, it's almost like having looked at a timeline. I'd think she wrote a novel around a series of notable world and US events that she remembered from her past, only I know that many of the events occurred before her lifetime. Bernice doesn't hone in on any one historical event but gives substantive leads that allow inquiring minds to find the documented events with no problem.

Holding all of this goodness together is the story of Harlan, a young man turned jazz musician who struggles to get on the right path. His reckless ways leave a trail of unintended consequences for many of the people he encounters.

When I visited Bernice's author website, the quote that appears under her image is,“I write to breath life back into memory.” Well, Bernice, you definitely accomplished that.

...more

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Sep 01, 2015 J Beckett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: african-american-fiction

Author: Bernice McFadden

Print Length: 354 pages (Kindle); 400 pages (hardcover)

Publisher: Akashic Books; Reprint edition (April 11, 2016)

Publication Date: April 11, 2016

"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." --Frederick Douglass (printed in The Book of Harlan, page 281, Kindle)

There are rare literary moments when a reader is given a gift so magnificent that it defies adequate definition; when Seshat embraces and guides the writer's pen and thoughts, leading them thr ...more

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Sep 01, 2016 Monica **can't read fast enough** rated it really liked it

Shelves: aa-fiction, historical-fiction, aa-authors-reads

Although The Book of Harlan is about the life and experiences of Harlan, there are many other vignettes throughout the book that focus on the lives of other characters. I am very thankful for that because the other stories are what actually saved the overall story for me. I did not like Harlan at all. He was a selfish, misogynistic, womanizer who was careless with his words and actions. His selfishness extended to his parents, friends, and lovers alike. I did feel sorry for Harlan, because he su Although The Book of Harlan is about the life and experiences of Harlan, there are many other vignettes throughout the book that focus on the lives of other characters. I am very thankful for that because the other stories are what actually saved the overall story for me. I did not like Harlan at all. He was a selfish, misogynistic, womanizer who was careless with his words and actions. His selfishness extended to his parents, friends, and lovers alike. I did feel sorry for Harlan, because he survived one of the world's greatest horrors, yet I still just couldn't bring myself to like him as a man. He was spoiled by a mother who herself was pretty selfish, so part of the blame for Harlan's deficit in character lays firmly at the feet of his parents. Harlan's father worked hard and loved his family, but he wasn't the strong person in their family. Harlan's mother got her way in all things which was a problem from the beginning of their marriage straight through to Harlan's young adulthood.

The Book of Harlan is written in very short chapters that carries the reader through the story extremely smoothly. I'm not sure if it tricked my mind into consuming the story faster than I normally would or what, but I felt like the story flew by in the best possible way. I was engaged from beginning to end, even while I was busy not liking Harlan. The many lives that orbited around Harlan were interesting and many times tragic. I had a much easier time having empathy for them and hoping that the more inevitable and realistic outcomes wouldn't befall them. There is a plot twist for one of the secondary characters that I didn't see coming and it served as a gut punch when it was revealed. Bravo, Ms. McFadden. That was a horrible but poignant moment in the story.

McFadden's writing style is wonderful and I am happy that I already own three of her other books. I am looking forward to reading them soon. If you aren't familiar with her work, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Book Of Harlan.

You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 Brown Girl Reading rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Lovers of quality stories written by African-American Women Writers

Shelves: 2016-big-book-challenge

Here's my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWX-_... ...more

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Jan 01, 2016 Shirley Schwartz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-5-star-reads, galley-copy

I received this book as an early reviewer copy. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. This is a remarkable story of a man who was born in 1917 - lived through the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression, World War II and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. All the tumult that occurs in the world during this time is reflected in the life of Harlan Elliot. Harlan was born in Macon Georgia and spent his early life there with his grandparents. When Harlan's moth I received this book as an early reviewer copy. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. This is a remarkable story of a man who was born in 1917 - lived through the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression, World War II and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. All the tumult that occurs in the world during this time is reflected in the life of Harlan Elliot. Harlan was born in Macon Georgia and spent his early life there with his grandparents. When Harlan's mother and father finally came to claim him he was 14 years old. They moved to Harlem. At that time, in the 20's, Harlem was exciting and very cool. It was teeming with humanity and with music. The black clubs attracted white clientele. They came in droves to listen and to dance to the jazz, blues and swing music. Harlan's parents are right in the midst of this and they have musicians and famous people dropping in to their house all the time. Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie are frequent visitors and Harlan grows up with music in his heart and in his blood. He and his best friend, trumpeter Lizard Robbins play in groups and bands all over Harlem. The life is exciting, but all the pitfalls and dangers are there for these young men - drugs, alcohol, women and fast living. Their band is asked to go to Paris to play in a club there. The time is the early spring of 1940 and Paris is teeming with life. In a few short months though the Nazis invade Paris and start their reign of terror in the City of Light. Both Harlan and Lizard did not get out of France in time and both are incarcerated in the Buchenwald concentration camp. Harlan survives (barely) after 5 long years and is sent back home a broken man. The rest of the book shows Harlan's struggle to return to the land of the living as he feels dead inside after the hardships he endured in Buchenwald. There are many more struggles for Harlan as he tries to find himself and before he finds a measure of peace. Ms McFadden states: "I write to breathe life back into memory", and she does that brilliantly here in The Book of Harlan. A must read, especially for music lovers. ...more

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Mar 28, 2016 Jamise | Spines & Vines rated it it was amazing

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! To say this is a "must read" is an understatement. Prepare yourself for a magical journey as McFadden catapults you into the life of Harlan. The short and impactful chapters kept me captivated as I devoured each page. McFadden's writing style grabs you instantly and she never lets you go. She exposes life and it's circumstances in a humanly raw magnitude that any reader can relate to.

You are transported back in time and deposited into monumental eras of history. McFadden's ...more

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Apr 14, 2017 Lata rated it really liked it

Shelves: bipoc-actor, x2017-read, auth-f, bipoc-author

3.5-4 stars. This was a quick read. I found the author's style to be engaging and the story to be compelling. Bernice McFadden tells a fictionalized version of her grandfather Harlan's life, from his parents' meeting to Harlan's middle age. The author describes Harlem in the years before WWII and Harlan and his family's life there, and how Harlan ended up in France, and most frightening, how he ended up in Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. Though the author doesn't get into detail of the ...more

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Jun 20, 2016 Chrissie rated it did not like it

Shelves: audible, ww2, hf, germany, bio, race, 2016-read, france, returned, disliked

This book is based on the author's paternal grandfather. The following is to be found on the author's web site:

The Book of Harlan was inspired by the life of my paternal grandfather; Harold Isaac McFadden (pictured on the cover).

I never personally knew the man and neither did my father. All I had to recreate his life were a birth certificate, census schedules, a few newspaper articles and my imagination.

In many ways, this book is the culmination of twenty years of family history research.

From t ...more

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May 17, 2016 Linda rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, black-author, fiction

To me, the essence of all books is the characters. If you like a character, you find a way to like the book. McFadden does something quite difficult, here. She writes characters that are unlikable, flawed and who act badly, but yet she imbues than with so much humanity that the reader can’t help but root for them.

For most of the book, McFadden does a great job of interweaving historical fact with fiction. For some reason, there was a chapter where McFadden listed a bunch of historical events. T ...more

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Jun 02, 2016 Louise rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 stars. I'm deducting a half point because I feel too large a time period was crammed into these pages. I would have preferred a bit more detail in some of the story-telling especially closer to the end although perhaps that would have detracted from the steam-roller effect. But that aside, this is one powerful and emotionally draining story that I had to put down to breath every now and then. There are quite a few events in the book that sent me sprawling, left me depleted. The phrase "packs ...more

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Jun 07, 2016 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult-fiction, african-american-fiction, historical-fiction, european-history

It's hard to know what to say about this book, because it is so rich and compelling. It is one man's tragic, epic life, and an unflinching, raw look at how trauma haunts survivors. Harlan's post-liberation life didn't follow the redemptive narrative I expected, and the book is richer for it. This was the first Bernice McFadden book I have read; it won't be the last. ...more

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Feb 03, 2016 Ezinwanyi Chinyere rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, review-books-completed, damaged, african-american-fiction, international, political-intrigue, historical-fiction, drugs

Wow. I almost quit this book but I am glad I didn’t. This book is really touched my soul. I have never given much thought to black people in the context of World War II period as most of the narrative revolves around the Jewish Experience. This is the most detailed accounting I’ve personally read about a real black person captured and sent to a concentration camp.

Harlan Elliot grew up in that 1920’s period where music was going through a revolution. Harlan, his best friend Leo “Lizard” Rubenstei ...more

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Feb 15, 2016 Joy Wright added it

She has done it again! I have read 7 of McFadden's 15 novels and every time I finish one, I sit in awe of her gift. The Book of Harlan is a book that takes the reader through the history (roughly 57 years) of not only a man but also Black culture. From Macon, Georgia to New York City, to France, to Germany, and back to the States, the reader is thrust into the life of Harlan will have a difficult time pulling away from all that happens in this 342 page novel. Now my charge is to read the rest of ...more

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Sep 23, 2018 Donna rated it it was amazing

Wow! I will first say that I don't read much historical fiction at all. The Book of Harlan was amazing to me. I love how McFadden wove this story together. I loved all the characters in this book but Lizard was my favorite. The themes in this book are remarkable! I'm looking forward to passing this book on to my son who loves historical fiction. Definitely looking forward to discussing this with my book group at brunch today! ...more

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Oct 08, 2014 Andre rated it it was amazing

I have said this before, but it bears repeating. The publishing of any Bernice McFadden book is an event, not simply another book being released. She has done it again with this excellent novel. The Book of Harlan can be described as a historical novel, but that description doesn't really do it justice, because it is much more than just historical. She uses very short chapters to great effect, it certainly helps the feel of the book as a fast paced page turner.

Bernice's prose as usual is imperia ...more

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Dec 19, 2019 Amy added it

I cannot begin to explain how beautiful and heartbreaking this book was.

I admit, I have developed a thick skin because I read so much, and sometimes that means books don't always emotionally overwhelm me the way they should.

This was NOT the case with, The Book of Harlan .

I, originally, had this as a book club selection, but then felt like this was too heavy to expect everyone to jump into this one for a book chat.

The honest truth is that I weeped through a good portion of this book and ther ...more

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May 16, 2016 Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library, black-lit

This is my first McFadden, it sure will not be my last. What a voice! I started laughing at the blunt open way she faces some delicate issues and kept chuckling along to the middle of the book. As Ms. McFadden describes the life of the family of Harlan; she gives all readers insight to what is personal and public in their lives beginning 1915, and quickly moving forward to 1917 Macon Georgia where Harlan is born. The chapters are short, and that makes it easy to finish a chapter before going to ...more

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Oct 16, 2017 Missy J rated it liked it

Shelves: world-war-ii, 2017-books, europe-related, black-american, historical-fiction

3.5*

Quick reading (however, this month I was very busy, so it took some time to finish this book).
I loved that the chapters were short and that the author focused on the action rather than the tiny details. On the other hand, one may criticize this rushed tempo for being superficial and glancing over horrific historical events (segregation in the South, Buchenwald concentration camp, the rising crime rate of Harlem).

This novel really packs on a lot of material. Harlan Elliot is the son of two b ...more

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Jan 21, 2016 Maya B rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 29, 2020 Claire rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction

I absolutely loved this book, it was such an immersive experience, I could feel myself slowing it right down not wanting it to end.

What a memorable Sunday I spent reading through the thirties and every time she mentioned one of the singers or musicians thanks to YouTube I could play Bessie Smith's most popular song, watch Cab Calloway sing and dance Minnie the Moocher, listen to Lucille Hegamin.

The Book of Harlan is just that, the life of a boy, an only child that begins in the town of Macon, G I absolutely loved this book, it was such an immersive experience, I could feel myself slowing it right down not wanting it to end.

What a memorable Sunday I spent reading through the thirties and every time she mentioned one of the singers or musicians thanks to YouTube I could play Bessie Smith's most popular song, watch Cab Calloway sing and dance Minnie the Moocher, listen to Lucille Hegamin.

The Book of Harlan is just that, the life of a boy, an only child that begins in the town of Macon, Georgia where he spends his formative years with his grandparents while his parents seek their fortune, intending to send for him. By they time that happens he doesn't want to leave, but the bright lights of New York and an introduction to the musical world help him recover.

His mother's best friend is Lucille Hegamin, also born in Macon, (the 2nd African-American blues singer to record) and when Harlan drops out of school at 16 she invites him to come along on one of her tours with his guitar. Being on the road changes him, exposing him to things that overwhelm him and he's shocked to find Lucille won't tolerate it and packs him off home.

He meets Leo, a musician everyone calls Lizard and they'll start a band together, life getting back on track. Lizard's story is unique, he and Harlan are bound together by some strange twist of fate, a connection that would run so deep and silent within Harlan his whole life, until finally he is released from the pain of it. I can't say more because this is a story that has to be read, not told by someone who has already read it.

Harland and Lizard respond to an invitation to come to Paris to play in a club in Montmartre, it's like a dream come true, except that it is the wrong time in history to be hanging around a city that is about to come under occupation. Paris becomes a life changing moment for both of them.

The book is inspired by a number of Bernice McFadden's ancestors, their names are listed at the back of the book, as are some of the musicians, dancers and singers who make an appearance. What an amazing story and a unique experience. By the end, you just want Harlan to be safe and it is with some relief that I read the closing chapters and wondered if that was the true version of events or the life-saving imagination of Ms McFadden.

Highly Recommended.

...more

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Mar 10, 2016 Shomeret rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction

I thought I knew what I'd be getting with The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden, and in some ways I was right, but in others I was wrong. Yes, this is a novel about an African American musician who is sent to a concentration camp by the Nazis. It's also about a number of other significant issues. When a book attempts to address so much, can it be successful? My feeling is that some aspects of The Book of Harlan were more successful than others.

The portrayal of Harlan was the best thing about I thought I knew what I'd be getting with The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden, and in some ways I was right, but in others I was wrong. Yes, this is a novel about an African American musician who is sent to a concentration camp by the Nazis. It's also about a number of other significant issues. When a book attempts to address so much, can it be successful? My feeling is that some aspects of The Book of Harlan were more successful than others.

The portrayal of Harlan was the best thing about this book. He was the character who had the most depth. I didn't always find him sympathetic, but he did feel like a genuine human being.

This is a historical novel that covers a long period of time. Since this is also a relatively short book, McFadden briefly mentions some names and events which lead readers inclined to do research to discover more about them. I usually find opportunities for research really wonderful. Yet sometimes McFadden's references weren't as meaningful as they could have been.

Because I do research about historical personages mentioned in novels, I wondered a great deal about the incident at the end of the book. I think that Harlan was definitely suffering from PTSD which is an understandable consequence of his experiences. He wasn't entirely sane. Bernice McFadden used indirect references and implications, so we can imagine what Harlan was thinking and feeling at the time. I thought that was very well-handled. It provided a moving conclusion to The Book of Harlan.

I still wanted to see more depth in characters other than Harlan--particularly the female characters. It was a good book. I learned about people and events in African American history that I hadn't heard about previously, and even an eye opening story about the well known musician, Louis Armstrong that led me to conduct hours of research. Yet there were missing aspects. Maybe The Book of Harlan should have been much longer.

For the blog version of this review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20... ...more

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Mar 20, 2016 Liz Janet rated it liked it

I received this book for review from Goodreads and Akashic Books, in exchange for an honest review.

"On the outside, Emma didn't seem to want from anything, but let's be clear-she was starving on the inside. Not the coal-burning-belly type of hunger of the destitute, but he agonizing longing of a free spirit, caged."

This book is the story of many people, not just Harlan, it just so happens that all those other people are connected to him in some shape or form. His parents, best friends, lovers, ...more

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Mar 06, 2016 Sarah Weathersby rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: african-american, historical-fiction, history, war, world-war-ii, third-reich, jazz

Can we say six stars? This is Bernice L. McFadden's best book ever! Her prose is stunning, gliding over an epic of horrific proportions.

We meet Harlan's parents Sam Elliot, and Emma Robinson before he was conceived, while Emma was too innocent to protect herself. But they did the best they could, leaving Harlan with his doting grandmother while the young couple goes off seeking their fortune from Macon to Louisville to Michigan, returning home to Macon when Emma's father Tenant Robinson dies. W ...more

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Nov 17, 2015 I Be Reading rated it it was amazing

** I won a copy of this novel in a Goodreads giveaway.**

Simply put, Bernice McFadden is a master storyteller and there is not a book of hers that exists that I don't absolutely love. "The Book of Harlan" is no exception.

As an amateur genealogist, the fact that this novel is based on Bernice's actual ancestors is especially meaningful to me. I also learned that Black people were also victims of the Holocaust and now I have a new subject to research/learn more about.

Finally I love that Bernice co ...more

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Nov 04, 2017 David rated it really liked it

This book snuck up on me. For the first half I thought it a pleasantly light trifle that couldn't make up its mind what kind of story it was. At first I thought it was a snapshot of a young lower-middle-class black couple raising a sensitive young boy named Harlan in Macon, Georgia, in the 1920s. Then after a setting change, a Jazz-Age Harlem bildungsroman. Then a freewheeling reefer travelogue as Harlan the jazz musician gigs across France. Then, unexpectedly and startlingly, a grim concentrati ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Flashette rated it it was amazing

The Book of Harlan is an excellent book that chronicles the life of the title character: from his humble birth in Macon, Ga to his upbringing in Harlem, NY and beyond. It also provides a picture of life in a WWII concentration camp and how challenging circumstances can make us stronger. I was on an emotional roller coaster while reading this book and when I finished, I was ready to take another ride. Read this book...it is one of the best books I've ever read. It will have you thinking about the ...more

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Historical > Historical Fiction

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Fiction

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Cultural > African American

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Historical

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War

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War > World War II

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World War II > Holocaust

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About Bernice L. McFadden

Bernice L. McFadden

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BERNICE L. McFADDEN is the author of ten critically acclaimed novels including Praise Song for the Butterflies (Long listed for the 2019 Women's Prize in Fiction ) The Book of Harlan (winner of a 2017 American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction) Sugar, Loving Donovan, Nowhere Is a Place, The Warmest December, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors’ C ...more

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Quotes from The Book of Harlan

“Prison had a way of draining people of their hope and humanity. But Harlan didn't have to worry about that because he'd gone in empty.” — 2 likes

“To Harlan, New York City was as chaotic and thrilling as the three-ringed circus that came through Macon each spring.

No matter which direction his head spun, there was something new and exciting to behold: white men with long beards and black hats as tall as chimney stacks; poor people begging for money; rich people walking white poodles tethered to long leather leads; blind people tapping walking sticks; fat people munching soft, salted pretzels; and middle-of-the-road people like themselves.” — 1 likes

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